The Samson G Track is one of the coolest devices I’ve seen in a while. There are a bunch of USB mics on the market, all of which provide a convenient way to record straight into the computer. But the Samson G Track does one better – you can connect additional instruments right into the mic itself. I think that’s pretty cool, and here’s why…

What makes the Samson G Track awesome?

When it comes to making music, it’s a little like sex. Once you get “in the mood” you don’t want to be fumbling around with “extra equipment” You just want to get down to business without anything getting in the way. Well the Samson G Track lets you do just that. You plug the mic in via USB, then connect any other instrument into the G Track. No other gear to deal with.

The Samson G Track as a master volume which controls the mic itself and the instrument. There are also independent volume controls for the mic and instrument as well so you can properly blend the two signals together.

Now let’s be honest here. The Samson G Track is no $3,000 microphone. You are getting a condenser mic with a built-in audio interface for under $150. There’s no doubt it’s a great value, but if you own other very expensive microphone and you have “golden ears” then don’t expect the G Track to sound like your U87

The Samson G Track is best used for recording demos, home recordings, and voiceovers.

If you need a solid, super convenient USB condenser mic to use with your computer – and you don’t want to deal with extra equipment – then click here to get your Samson G Track!

Here’s Amazon’s take:

Samson G Track USB Microphone and Audio Interface

The G-Track is a total solution capable of taking you from your musical inspiration to your finished tracks. It is the world’s first USB condenser microphone with a built-in audio interface and mixer, allowing simultaneous input of vocals and guitar, bass, or keyboard while also providing monitoring through an on board headphone output. Record vocals like a standard USB microphone or two mono instruments through the line/instrument input or a mix of one mono instrument and vocal. Now you can directly record vocals and instruments easily with one device, making the G-Track a must have for any songwriter’s home studio. Its ease of use and portability allows you to take it anywhere inspiration may strike you. The G-Track includes a desktop microphone stand, swivel stand mount, USB cable and all the cables needed to connect any musical instrument with a standard 1/4-inch or RCA output. Cakewalk’s Sonar LE is also included while the G-Track works brilliantly with Apple’s GarageBand.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars GREAT for laptop recording solution
This will be a nice semi-quick review with a little more technical perspective than a lot of the previous ones. I’m a big home recording nut, who’s been on the road a lot the last year, mostly recording with my laptop, this mic, and a full version of Sonar.

First off, the audio quality:

Pretty decent. No noticeable glitches while using. Does sound a little tinny at times, but it’s definitely on par with most of my other $100+ mikes (my most expensive one is a $200 Rode). Very usable for recording vocals (singing), but I haven’t tried it with an acoustic guitar or other acoustic instruments. VERY-usable-plus for recording spoken words. Frequency range seems decent, but again, I haven’t really ran the thing through a full range of applications.

Build quality:

Nice and solid. Almost too heavy though for easy lugging on small trips…but I keep it in the manufacturer’s box and slide it in my suitcase, and so far it has made every trip just fine.

Ease of use:

Big plus here, despite a stable Windows OS possibly being as much responsible for the super simple use of the thing as the mic itself. Plug it in via USB, and you’re ready to go. No special driver install or software required to get it working.

Extras:

- Line in and headphone out are constructed directly on the mic…this lets you use the mic as a line-in for recording an electronic keyboard or electric guitar directly into your recording software. And then you can use the microphone part of it to record vocals or any acoustic instruments. Nice double-feature to have in the same piece of hardware

- Comes with a very usable desk mic stand

- Comes with all the necessary cables to use right away

- Comes with some scaled-down Cakewalk recording software for your computer

I expected the sound quality would be usable and it is, but I admit the all-in-one extras and the acceptable price were what ultimately snagged me and prompted the one-click order.

Final thoughts:

If you’re only doing podcasting (no music or instrument input required), you might consider a lower priced USB mic without the extras. BUT, if you’re doing music with the thing, the line-in and line-out features and easy direct monitoring are way nice and worth the price.

5 Stars Awesome for me and my band
I got this for our band practice so we can review our parts. We play mostly rock & hard core so it can get pretty loud. The mic handled everything pretty well after setting the levels. Granted it wasn’t crystal clear as in a recording studio, but for practices and hashing out sections, it’s served us perfectly. I use Audacity to record. I think my next purchase would be the shockmount.

4 Stars Samson G Track USB Mic
The Samson G Track USB Mic is a well built mic that offers many options. The mic offers the ability to record vocally or through line inputs. It also offers a nice headphone input. Each input offers individual volume controls. It sounds great and works flawlessly with Mac products and Garageband. The software that comes with the mic is not usable by the Mac society. Overall, I think this is an excellent purchase for someone interested in podcasting and demo recording. It is certainly not the highest quality mic, however you end up getting a pretty decent mic for the money.

4 Stars Great microphone
I bought this to improve the quality of the audio voice-overs I do for eLearning classes. It does the job very well and produces professional sounding audio.

4 Stars Good Quality… Bad Software
The microphone has great record sound quality. The line in feature is great for recording my Taylor and my friends Fender, picking up every sound and showing how awful we really are at playing. The mics profile is good, picking up all sounds in front of the mic and none to the side, something like a super cancoid profile. We were able to record both of us playing in space, even picking up the birds chirping.

The problem I have with the package is the included software. It comes with Sonar 6 LE. I could not get this software to work properly, even after installing the ASIO drivers that the forums suggested on my HP laptop. I did not go to the manufacturer to solve my problem but I did go to the forums. What resulted from that was several unhelpful posts and one user bragging about his tutorial over other Samson mics. So using those forums, nothing was solved. I did however find a program that worked out of box for the mic named Acuostica Mixcraft. The program is very similar to Garage Band. Its easy to use and did not require any fumbling around to get started. The interface is simple and not cluttered feeling, which is how Sonar 6 LE feels, even as a LE version. Mixcraft will set you back 65 dollars to purchase but I think it is well worth it.

All in all the Samson G-Track is a great buy for someone who does not want to mess with the complexities of buying a separate sound card and several microphones. I recommend it.

Buy/More Info

A post from: Microphone Reviews

==>>Click here to check out the Rode NT1A Anniversary Vocal Condenser Mic Package on Amazon<<==

The Rode NT1A Sounds Awesome!

…especially compared to other condenser mics around the same price. Most sound harsh, cold, brittle, etc. But the Rode NT1A has a nice smooth top end, and a good amount of low end as well. It works especially well on vocals and midrange instruments like acoustic guitar and piano. You won’t be disappointed by this mic.

Need more proof? Check out the most helpful Amazon review:

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars

The Mic I’ve Been Looking For

…I’d heard a lot of positive hype about the Rode NT1A and claims of it being the “quietest mic in the market”. I was very much surprised by the low-cost and comparisons to microphones in a much higher price range, so I picked one up figuring that if it didn’t live up to the claims, I’d return it and buy a more expensive mic.

I didn’t return it. And I don’t ever see myself selling it either.

Quite simply, this mic is amazing. Read the rest…

==>>CLICK HERE to Buy the Rode NT1A Anniversary Vocal Condenser Mic Package<<==

My favorite application for this mic is in a 2-microphone setup while recording drums. Unless you’re recording metal or another genre where you’ll be slicing up the drums and you need total separation, this method will give you great results. It’s called the recorderman drum mic technique.

Here’s a good video teaching you exactly how to do it:

The best part about this technique is that it ensures that the two overhead drum mics are in phase with each other – a common problem when using overhead mics.

Click here to get your NT1A and try it out! Let me know how it works in the comments.

A post from: Microphone Reviews

Here’s Amazon’s take:

Hands Free Clip On Mini Microphone

Use with your computer, internet telephony, gaming, education lab, video conferencing, speeches, recordings, etc. Small, compact design allows you to easily clip it to your shirt, tie or pocket.

Plug Type: 3.5mm.
Impedance: 10 ohms.
Frequency response: 50-16Hz.
Sensitivity: -60dB+/-3dB.
Cord length: approx 2M.
***Note for Mac users: Apple Mac computer hardware requires a powered mic. Without a pre-amp, this mic may not work with your computer.***

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Clip On Mike
Works great with the Nikon D300s but you must set the microphone volume to its lowest setting. Also if you clip it on your collar it tends to overload the camera input; just clip it around your shirt pocket and everthing is really good.

4 Stars works like it’s supposed to
sound quality isn’t great, but you can’t expect that at this price.

i like the long cable.

Buy/More Info

A post from: Microphone Reviews

Here’s Amazon’s take:

ED 9000 Party Package with Duet Microphone

Includes:
Main Microphone with 2064 songs
Wireless Sub Microphone
Video/Audio Cable
Song Book and Manual Binder
Microphone Stand for both Microphones
Carrying Bag
110/220 AC Adapter

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Fun and easy to use
Lots of fun. I was very surprised to learn that the song selections were very modern. Songs by Madonna, Blink 182 and more. There are two cons: The duet function is not as sophisticated as other Karaoke systems. It does in fact allow two people to sing at the same time, but to truly sing a duet it does not have the separate male and female coloring on the screen. Another down fall is that it does not give you the ability to listen to the artist sing the song in the background for learning purposes. There are many songs that I don’t know and it would be nice to be able to hear the song in the back ground while I sing so that I can follow along. Other wise great product. Had I known that this product did not have these features, I don’t think I would have purchased it.

5 Stars The LIFE of the party!!!
This is one of the best things I got here at Amazon.

Forget about how one of the mics has a wire… it’s a LONG one.

It comes with over 2 thousand songs and the book of songs in a cool leather pouch.

This is great at BBQs, Parties of all kinds and even when you are bored home.

I like how it scores you in 3 different ways depending how you programme it: Amateur, professional and “in between”.

You can record your voice singing ur fav song and you can compete and the monitor will tell you who won. I lOVED it and it’s a HIT in my house. Done with scratched cds and lost chips.

Buy/More Info

A post from: Microphone Reviews

Providing high-end performance at an affordable price, Pyle products offer hard-to-find features customers demand. These components will provide the professional and occasional enthusiast with an unbeatable combination of performance, flexibility and price.PRODUCT FEATURES:Professional Dual UHF;Two Microphones Included;Power On/Standby/Off Switch;Audio Mute Circuitry For Quiet Operation;Advanced Companding Circuitry;Dual RF Indicators;Dual AF Level Meters;Dual Volume Controls;Individual XLR Balanced Outputs;1/4” Mixed Unbalanced Output;Batteries and 1/4” Audio Cable Included;110V/220V selectable;Half Space Rack Mountable;Rack Ears Included.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Great wireless mics for the price
I purchased these for a house party and they did not disappoint. They were used to coordinate a dance contest and for guest to offer well wishes to the birthday honoree. We enjoyed the freedom of walking around the house interviewing guest without being restricted by the cords on our previous mics. A DJ at the party told me he thought they were excellent mics for the price (can’t tell if it was because of all the free drinks he was having). We experience no feedback or interference. We had so much fun that I’m mow shopping for a karaoke machine to get more use out of the mics.

Two years ago I rented a pair of Shure wireless mics for $15.00 less than it cost to own these. Yes, they are not Shure but my family and I couldn’t tell the difference, so we are very satisfied with this purchase. One more use and we will more than get our money back compared to renting.

I did not know if I should shop for VHF or UHF wireless, but since the rental Shures were UHF I decided to go with the UHF PylePro even though some of the VHF mics were more affordable.

5 Stars Sound is as good of my much more expensive wired mikes
I would recommend this wireless mike system to anyone. I went 50-60 feet away from the box and even got out of the line of sight of it and still had great sound quality. If used for a meeting hall though I would make sure all cell phones are turned off or you do get a little sound interference. I used to be told we can’t hear you now I hear turn it down you’re too loud.

4 Stars Definitely not Shures, but good mics for the money.
I’m a part-time Karaoke host at a couple local bars in my town. A contemporary of mine put together the Mother-of-all-Karaoke Rigs: 12-channel mixing board, Electro-Voice speakers, preamps, compressors, sonic maximizers, Shure x-series wireless mics, intelligent EQs–and everything he bought was from professional music supply houses and brand-new.

I’m exactly the opposite; this isn’t my career–it’s just a fun hobby. I have a Mackie 808S 8 Channel Powered Mixer driving two JBL loudspeakers and a floor monitor. Period. My rig sounds pretty decent, and I didn’t break the bank assembling it. After all, it’s not like Britney Spears or Eminem are performing at my shows. However, I liked my buddy’s wireless mics, so when I off-handedly asked him what the four of them set him back, I nearly passed out when he said “Oh yeah! I got ‘em on sale! Only $659 apiece!”

After a gagging spit-take, I said “Looks like I’ll be sticking with my Seindheisser corded mics for a while.”

That was until I found this Pyle setup on Amazon here.

Okay, they’re not Shures. That much is certain. But for the money, they’re really decent little mics. They feel lightweight and plasticky, but have a semi-rubberized coating on them much like my ThinkPad does. The power switches are recessed and fairly rugged, and the battery compartment cover screws onto the bottom of the mics snugly and with authority.

On the back are two balanced XLR outputs–one for each mic–and a single unbalanced 1/4″ mixed output. You could use this set on a professional rig, like I do with XLR cables, or connect it to your home stereo with the 1/4″.

And the sound? It sounds very decent. The radios work well, with no interference at all. However, the unit puts out an inordinate lot of highs, so to stave off feedback I have to pot down the high EQ on the channels it’s connected to. But they still sound good nonetheless. Besides, unlike my buddy, who will doubtless get a peptic ulcer worrying about his wicked-expensive mics in the hands of inebriated revelers, because of the low price, I worry significantly less about Drunkie McDrunkelstein dropping it–I could replace the whole set with less than half the proceeds from a single gig, if necessary.

All-in-all, these mics are a good value for the money. I’ve been very happy with them.

3 Stars hand held
This unit works fairly well when you know some of its shortfalls. The sound and range are excellent, but if you hold the microphone too high on the handle, it muffles the sound and causes noises in the system. For the price, it is an excellent choice.

5 Stars Fast Shipping
I asked for expedited shipping and that’s what I got. I received my order in plenty of time for my party. We have not used the mics much, but when we have we were pleased. Thanks!

Buy/More Info

A post from: Microphone Reviews

Microphone and stand package includes a Nady SP1 mic with mic clip, 20′ mic cable, and a tripod fixed-boom mic stand.The SP1 dynamic mic has a convenient recessed on-off switch and broad frequency response that makes it useful for back up vocals, speaking, miking guitar cabs, and even drums.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Nothing better for the price.
I’ve had this for stand/mic/chord for about a month now and am totally satisfied with my purchase. You’d pay an additional fifteen dollars for just the stand at Guitar Center. It shipped to my house in a larger box containing the components, wrapped in a large section of crumpled brown paper internally, and was in great shape upon arrival.

The stand, itself, is stellar- we have had another in the house for going on ten years that has carried us through at least 50 gigs a year and never an issue. The stand is metal, in top notch condition (no dings or marks), and most importantly it is -sturdy-. The typical rules apply with boom mic stands- known how to balance and adjust it so that it won’t fall over (pretty much a no brainer). I use the one I bought here through Amazon in my ‘fake it till you make it’ home studio to hold a pair of condenser mic. It does it amazingly well. It comes with a clip to hold a mic cable to the stand’s vertical trunk.

The cable sells locally for about $20 for something comparable, and I’ve had no issue, what-so-ever with it. As for the Mic that came with the bundle, it has a standard medium quality clip to attach it to the stand. If you were going to use any other mic with this stand, get a different clip for it. No point in potentially having your Shure fall to the ground on you. While nothing special, it would make a great back up, or main mic for anyone doing hobbyist performing. My only complaint is that it came with no case other than the box it was shipped in. This is really a non-issue, the cardboard box would get beat up pretty fast if being used frequently.

5 Stars Great product!
I had ordered this expecting to get a cheap plasic microphone with a worthless stand, but as soon as i opend the box i noticed the metal body on the mic. The microphone works great but it would hae been better if it had a 1/4 plug on the cord insted of a XLR plug. The mic is a little quiet so i sugest getting a mini mixer or sound mixer if you don’t already have one. If you buy theNady 4-CHANNEL Mini Mixer you will have to buy a XLR Female to 1/4 Male adapter. The stand is working fine so far, no problems with it. The mic cord doe’s seem a little cheap but it works for now.

5 Stars Great Deal
I make short animated films as a hobby, and was looking for an inexpensive mic for recording the vocal tracks. I happened upon this mic while doing an internet search and was pleasantly surprised to find that it also included a mic stand, which I was also looking to buy. The product arrived exactly one week after placing the order. I plugged the mic into my USB mixer, opened my wav recording device, and tested it out. It records great. The sound level is a little low, but I don’t know if it the fault of the mic, or my mixer. I will also need to purchase a windshield for the mic, but other than that it’s fine for what I use it for.

For a $25 mic, stand and extension cord, I feel this is a great deal. I’ve read many reviews that say that the extension cord stops working after a short period of time, but I don’t know about that, yet.

5 Stars Better than Expected
Bought this for recording a spinet piano in my tiny home studio. The stand places/holds the mic exactly where I want without slipping, and the sound quality from the mic is not bad at all – much better than expected, actually. I’ve got a couple of nice Shure mics and thought I would get a decent mic stand and throw-away mic for $20 – but the Nady mic does a decent job capturing acoustic piano.

5 Stars Best Bang for your Buck
You can barely get a Mic Stand for $25, yet alone a stand, microphone and XLR cable. I actually bought this package and turned the stand into a Movable Desk mic stand for my weekly readio show. Keep in mind this isn’t some $200 professional mic, but its good enough for most of us.

Buy/More Info

A post from: Microphone Reviews

Here’s Amazon’s take:
Nady DKW DUO Dual Channel VHF Hand Held Microphone System Channel P R

The Nady DKW-DUO is a dual channel VHF hand-held mic system. The DKW-DUO makes a perfect entry-level system: all the advantages and freedom of wireless operation without cumbersome cords. Easy to use, simply plug in instead of your wired microphone. Excellent high fidelity audio, perfect for all speakers, karaoke/recreational singers, DJ’s, auctioneers, aerobic instructors, and many other consumer applications.The Nady DKW-DUO features VHF (170-216MHz) operation for reliable, interference-free performance with 150+ feet typical operating range. Up to 300+ feet line-of-sight. With a dual receiver for versatile single or simultaneous dual transmitter operation.

Buy/More Info

A post from: Microphone Reviews

Here’s Amazon’s take:

Samson CO1U USB Condenser Microphone

The C01U USB Studio Condenser Mic is the first affordable studio condenser mic with a USB interface.

For the first time ever, musicians who record music on computers have a simple, affordable way to capture high-quality vocal and acoustic instrument performances.

Seamless integration was the idea, and it was obtained by creating a studio condenser microphone that can be plugged into any computer with no in/out boxes, no expensive computer pre-amps, just a USB cable.

The C01U condenser microphone is based on our wildly successful C01. It features a 19mm internal shock mounted diaphragm with a cardioid pick up pattern ensuring pristine studio quality recordings.

The C01U works perfectly on any computer, Mac or PC, and with any DAW software program. It immediately solves a huge problem for users of many laptops, many of which have no other input method for audio devices.

It’s a must for any musician on the road or in the project studio, but the C01U is going to offer solutions to more than just musicians. The mic opens up possibilities for anyone who records audio—from Podcasters, journalists, students, and business people adding audio files to websites and multimedia presentations.

Feature List

• Large Diaphragm, 19mm, Studio Condenser with USB Digital Output.
• Compatible with any computer based Digital Audio Workstation.
• The extremely detailed sound reproduction makes it ideal for recording vocals, acoustic instruments and just about any other sound source.
• High Quality AD converter with 16 Bit, 48K sampling rate.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Nice low cost mic
It took just a little playing to get the mic placement figured out, but now it produces nice sounding audio. What works well for my screencasts is to set it on the table right in front of me at about a 60 degree angle tilted away from me. So the green light on the front is pointed towards my mouth, but I talk over it. I look at the computer screen, so the main acoustic energy is flowing about 5 inches above the microphone rather than aimed straight at it. I also bought the windscreen for it to help smooth any acoustic bursts.

It works perfectly with Windows and Linux. Supposed to also work with Mac. For me, a big concern before buying a microphone was that it works with Linux. I didn’t have to do anything to get it to work with Linux. I just plugged it in and used the ALSA mixer to turn it on and used it with Audacity and RecordMyDesktop.

The graphical mixer tools work well to turn it on or off, but to make sure I get the same a good volume setting each time, I made a couple simple shell scripts after experimenting with the right volume setting.

$ cat micon

amixer -c 1 set ‘Mic’ 48 unmute cap on

$ cat micoff

amixer -c 1 set ‘Mic’ nocap mute

Then in recordMyDesktop, either specify hw:1,0 in the device box (graphical version) or from the command line, use -device hw:1,0.

Here is a sample of one of my screencasts with this mic using recordMyDeskTop in Linux. My voice is pretty deep, so that’s just me, not the mic.

[...]

Here is one where I compare it to two other mics. I did this one right after I got it, and hadn’t figured out the mic placement yet. I did this one in Windows. You can also find this recording on YouTube.

[...]

2 Stars Does Not work with Vista
“Samson C01U USB mic records low volume on Vista.

This is a known behavior with the Samson Mic and the Vista operating system and is not specific with Camtasia Studio. Be sure to turn your recording volume up and speak directly into the microphone to obtain a good recording level. ”

The above is copied from the Camtasia Web site. This is apparently a well known problem with Vista. I’m encountering it too.

5 Stars Gain problem on Mac solved
On my Mac iBook G4 running 10.5.8 there had been a problem with these Samson USB CO1U mics that first came up when I switched them between laptops. The problem was there with Audacity and SoundStudio and it may be the same issue with other apps. I am using two of these mics for stereo recording, but the fix is the same for a single mic. The source of this problem is the fact that even though these are mono mics they have two output channels, and both channels must have their gain all the way up in order to have full gain from the mic. Setting gain in the system sound preference does not seem to accomplish this.

Go to the AudioMIDI Setup Utility in the utilities folder, select the Samson mic in the “Properties For” dropdown. Under “Audio Input” you will then see the option of 1 or 2 channels. Select 2-ch, then below to the left the L & R volume sliders for both channels should be all the way to the right. You can now put the mic setting back to 1-channel without affecting overall gain.

If you use two mics for stereo recording just set each mic like this individually, go to the Aggregate Device Editor under “Audio” on the menu bar, aggregate the two mics, and you’re done. If you need to balance the gain on them afterward you can do so by selecting them individually to make any changes. Make sure “Default Input” remains “Aggregate Device” (which BTW you can rename by going back to the “Aggregate Device Editor” and double clicking.) Unfortunately, on some Macs this resetting of mic gain has to be redone every time they are unplugged and plugged back in, but it’s quick and easy once you’ve done it. Hope this helps!

5 Stars Great mic at a great price
I was looking for a good high-quality condensor microphone. This is it. USB connected for digital no-noise signal. Standard size fit my stand and vibration mount. The sound is clean and perfect for voice applications. Highly recommended!

5 Stars Received right away and works great!
This was sent out fast and we were very happy with the promptness and condition of the product.

Buy/More Info

A post from: Microphone Reviews

Here’s Amazon’s take:

Magic Sing ET 18000 Multiplex Karaoke Microphone 2009 Edition

EnterTech present the new Magic Sing ET-18000 with 1,596 songs built-in and additional 474 songs chip for total 2,070 songs. This system comes with 2 wireless microphones, a full function remote control, and a main station that holds up to 4 song chips. You need only to connect the main station to your TV or entertainment system and power and you’re ready to go.

Features:

* Includes 2 Wireless Microphones

* 1,596 English Songs Built-in (No Vocal)

* Additional song chip with 474 songs included (No Vocal)

* 100% Backward Compatible with existing Enter-Tech Silver Chips and Recording Chips

* 4 Song Chip Expansion Slots Available for silver song chips

* Musical Notation display

* 50 meter range

* Input songs and access functions from Remote control

* Record Play Function

* Built-in USB Interface

* Use your own video source (VCD,DVD,Video camcorder) as background video

* External Video Background Input – Change Background from any Standard RCA Video Source

* Pitch Transposition- Male to Female or Female to Male

* Key Changer, Tempo Changer, Built-in Digital Echo

* Voice Changer – Ability to change your voice to male or female

* Scroll by page

* Real Time Scoring

* Reserve up to 100 songs

* Pause, Random Play, Continuous Play, Voice Change Type

* Adjustable Echo, Tempo, Pitch, Mic, Music and Melody Volume

* PAL/NTSC Compatible

Package Included

* Main Receiving Station

* Carrying Bag

* 2 Wireless Main Mic (Batteries Included)

* Remote Control

* User Manual and Song list with Binder

* Audio Video Cable

* USB Cable & Driver

* Video Cable for Video input Source

* AC Adaptor

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Does what it says
Does exactly what it says it does. It is very portable and very easy to set up at anyone’s house. Sound quality is liveable but couldn’t really tell with amount of poor singers who were using it. I would like to try some different backgrounds as these can get a little tedious but apart from that one of the easiest go anywhere machines I have ever seen

5 Stars Fabulous fun, easy to use
We ordered this item RUSH for a big birthday celebration, and it arrived right on time. We did a dry run at home the night before the event, and it was very easy to set up and to use. At the event, we had a whole different system to connect to, and it was still very easy to get working, despite the hubbub and crowds! We and our guests LOVED the ease of use, the interface, the song selection and the quality of the product. The wireless mics worked flawlessly-clear and crisp. It sounds fantastic-how great to be able to adjust each mic’s volume and echo, and to select songs right from the mic simply by punching in a song number and hitting “play”. You can also adjust the pitch and tempo of the song you have selected, although we didn’t actually try these features out in the heat of the moment!

We’ve used stand-alone, boom-box type karaoke machines before, and they cannot even compare to the full experience of this set up. Of course, the sound will only be as good as your TV system’s, so bear that in mind when purchasing. If you’ve got a good TV with stereo sound, or even a more sophisticated sound system, you will LOVE the way it sounds. It was definitely worth the price!

Our only complaint is in the organization of the song lists, which are in alphabetical order by song. A cross listing by artist would be most helpful. Apparently there is a search system, but we didn’t have that sorted out yet when we were first using it. Also, they include a lot of useless “public domain” songs that are obscure and strange (in many cases). And searching through a whole slew of songs that begin with “The” under the “T’s” instead of the shortened song name (think “The Locomotion” instead of “Locomotion”) was a bit frustrating. I suspect we’ll adjust……

5 Stars Too cool for words
I just recieved my Magic Mic setup. I purchased it as a family gift for Christmas…but of course had to test it out (it’s only Nov 13th) while the kids were in school. What a blast! Very easy to setup-I was up and running in 10 minutes. I have just spent the last 2 hours singing by myself in my jammies. I did a ton of research on different systems, and finally settled on this one because of the portability and ease of use. A little pricey,($399) but you get 2000+ songs with the potential to expand with additional chips. The whole system fits in a bag that is roughly the size of a lunchbox, so I plan on bringing it along-just in case any parties need a little livening up! Can’t wait to open it and get to use it for real! I think the little features such as scoring (with built in applause if you do well), Effects (echo, backup singers), Key changes and games such as “name that tune” are bound to bring even the most closeted singers out of the woodwork!

3 Stars Sound quality is weak
I purchased this unit based upon the reviews that were here on Amazon. I wanted to get the best pro-sumer version of a Karaoke machine and this one looked like it fit the bill.

Pros:

-Easy to set up

-Very configurable

-Large song list

-Quality equipment

-Expandable with other song chips

-No CDs to mess around with

Cons:

-The sound has too much echo/reverb

-Latency (perhaps due to wireless connection)

I might be using it incorrectly, but the reverb+latency is so annoying that it is almost unusable. I know that might sound harsh, but it is a real issue.

Buy/More Info

A post from: Microphone Reviews

Rather not spend the cash on a Shure SM58?? Check out the PG58 for the same great sound and an even better value!

Shure SM58 LC Shure SM58 Vocal Microphone

The legendary Shure vocal mic is tuned to accentuate the warmth and clarity of lead and back-up vocals. It’s consistently the first choice of performers around the globe. The Shure SM58 is a unidirectional (cardioid) dynamic vocal microphone designed for professional vocal use in live performance, sound reinforcement, and studio recording. A highly effective, built-in, spherical filter minimizes wind and breath “pop” noise. A cardioid pickup pattern isolates the main sound source while minimizing unwanted background noise. The SM58 has a tailored vocal response for a sound, which is a world standard. Rugged construction, a proven shock mount system, and a steel mesh grille ensure that even with rough handling, the SM58 will perform consistently. Outdoors or indoors, singing, speech – the SM58 is the overwhelming choice of professionals.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Microphone works great
Shure microphone in place in our lunchroom. Works fine. Easy to connect and disconnect.

5 Stars Great mic
I bought this mic about a month ago, its really great. Sounds very clear, and audible. The tone isn’t completely accurate, but most of that has to do with my recording device. Anywho, its a good mic, and I hear its durable. I’ll be writing another review after I drop it down a flight of stairs, to see just how o.0 (I’ve heard its THAT durable, but I’m not really clumsy so…)

5 Stars A podcast gem!
I bought this microphone after reading many reviews on Amazon.com, magazines, advice of friends. I have started my own series of podcasts, and this microphone is exactly what another reviewer says: A WORKHORSE!

Coupled with the M-Audio USB Fast Track, i am able to use this in my office / studio setup, as well as take it on the road for location podcasts.

I highly recommend this microphone. Good price for the quality, longevity and most importantly sound quality.

5 Stars Great product
The SM 58 produces very clear and crisp tones. Also has a nice, balanced weight, at the same time is pretty sturdy. I think it is an excellent buy for the price.

5 Stars The most famous!
This is with out a doubt the most famous microphone in the world.

It is resistant, very resistant, that’s why I recommend it for live shows, gigs, talks, etc.

The sound is great!!

Compared to microphones from other great brands as jts, peavey and fender the sound of the SM58 is more clearer and more defined,.

No wonder is the choice of many many professionals for singing, for vocals and fot backround voices.

Even though is a little bit more expensive than other brands, the quality of sound and durability and resistance of the materials make the justification of the price.

I have seen that most professionals prefer the SM-58 without on/off switch. Tahe note on that detail, they say it sounds a little better, for my experience I couldn’t hear the difference, but it is a point to consider.

On the other hand, if you want an even better and more expensive vocal microphone, you may want to check the Beta 58A.

Please note this microphones are made specially for vocals, not for instrument pickup, if you need one for instruments such as a guitar, harmonica, or wind instruments, you may need a Shure SM-57. It works for vocals too! but is not as resistant as the SM-58 that’s why I prefer it.

In conclusion it is a good buy, and you will never repent to have the most famous microphone in the world in your studio and in your giggs.

Buy/More Info

A post from: Microphone Reviews